There are two mobility scooters inside the Shoprider Sunrunner standard range, the 3 and 4 wheeled scooters. They have exactly the same features apart from the number of wheels which affects the weight and the turning circles which are listed in the specifications. These scooters are very popular due to their luxury feel when compared to competitors in its price range.

Our shoprider Sunrunner review covers all the features and answers the important questions that customers frequently ask on the forums. we hope you find everything you need here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can you travel?

On one full charge the range is about 30 miles depending on how many inclines you happen to climb. Going uphill always drains batteries faster but this one gets a fair number of miles out of one charge. It’s limited to 6 mph which is the fastest legal limit for one of these without a separate license in some states.

Is it suitable for grocery stores?

This one is always a hard question to answer as it depends on your grocery store. The best thing to do is measure it out, see how wide the scooter is, it is about 22 inches so the aisles have to be at least wider than that and the turning radius is 50 inches or about two feet so to get round a tight corner that’s the minimum radius of a circle you can make.

Usually if the aisles are wide enough then you should be able to navigate around, space between tills is another important consideration when you need to go to pay but stores tend to be very helpful if you go into one in a mobility scooter like this one.

Are the tires flat free?

Yes they are and should not require much attention at all to stay in tip top working condition. One customer uses it for around 2500+ miles a year and has been doing so for many years.

Can it be fitted for one hand use?

The scooter comes as sold which is with a speed control knob and then a go and stop lever with steering using the tiller. You would have to consult a technician to do a custom refit for one hand use which would involve a lot of rewiring but that would not be covered under warranty unfortunately.

How long does it take to charge?

Minimum time to charge is about 8 hours from completely dead to fully charged. There is a battery gauge on the dashboard to let you know the current level of power left and a common practice is to charge it every other day even though under medium use the battery charge would last for a while. It is recommended however to recharge every use just to make sure you do not get stranded with no alternative method to get home.

Features

Large Weight Capacity

Both Sunrunners have a 300lb weight capacity which is significantly more than the common weight capacity of 250lb, making it suitable for heavier users having trouble with walking long distances. As they are built for heavier users the outcome is a very stable ride which spreads the weight well across all wheels. It also means that you can carry your shopping on it with ease.

Adjusting Swivel Seat

The seat can be tilted and adjusted to suit you, if you have need to have a specific seating position there are enough angles of tilt to fit you. It also swivels to make it easier to get on and off.

Adjustable Mirrors

Just like car wing mirrors you use these to spot things behind and to the side of you, helping you to drive safely and not injure yourself or anyone else.

Extra Padded Seat

The back of the seat has plenty of give to cushion you during the journeys you make and helps reduce the amount of jarring you could feel when riding on very uneven ground.

Extra Accessories

An attachable headlight and wicker basket come with these scooters. Baskets for both the 3 wheel sunrunner and the 4 wheel sunrunner are the same size. This allows you to use your scooter to carry shopping and other items that you may need to take with you. If you have a small dog then they can also ride in the basket.

Battery Life and Driving Range

The batteries are 2 x 12Volts 35 Amp units. Which are rechargeable and last for a long time, it takes about 8 hours for a full charge and the battery life is around 5-8 hours depending on usage. If driving non-stop at max 6mph speed it will last around 5 hours giving a total of about 30 miles travelling distance, the average scooter only lasts for around 20 miles on one charge so its handy for longer journeys and more suitable for day trips out.

Portable

Although not a foldable scooter, it does disassemble into 3 pieces to help move it although most people transport it whole in the boot. If doing this you will need a ramp to get it into the boot unless you can handle the heaviest piece which is 90lb.

Specifications

Operation

Weight Capacity: 300 lb

Mileage per charge: 25 miles

Maximum Speed: 5 mph

Turning Radius: 50″

Goes In Reverse: Yes

Freewheel Mode: Yes

Tiller Drive

Tires

Front Wheel Diameter: 10″

Rear Wheel Diameter: 10″

Ground Clearance: 3″

Tire Type: Pneumatic

Dimensions

Overall Length: 49″

Overall Width: 22″

Seat Depth: 17″

Seat Width :17″

Disassembly

Weight, without batteries: 132 lb

Weight, with batteries: 180 lb

Heaviest Piece Weight: 90 lb

Disassembly 3 Pieces

Power

Motor Type: 24V DC, 1 Horsepower

Battery Type: 2×12 Volt, 35 Amp, U-1

Battery Weight: 48 lb

Battery Charger: Off-board, 3 Amp

Customer Positive Points

Comes readily assembled

Your Shoprider Sunrunner will arrive readily assembled with only the battery cables to connect before it is ready to go. No complicated parts to put together and all you need to do is adjust both the seat and tiller to be comfortable for you to ride in. It may need to be charged before use but some have received it with fully charged batteries and others have had to leave it charging overnight.

Seating and ride is stable and comfy

Those who have used this on both steep inclines and rough gravel paths have reported it is very comfortable and they do not get sore for using it for extended periods of time. This is important so as to not aggravate existing medical conditions. Overall the experience felt really stable and comfy.

Speed Control

It has an easy speed control which is a turning knob that can be set at any speed between the minimum and maximum, although it is listed as having a 5mph limit it goes a little faster in practice. The 5 mph limit is when it is carrying its maximum 300lb weight capacity.

Can be used indoors

If you have an open plan house then this is ideal for getting round the house. Watch out as it does go quite fast so you don’t run into anything.

Negatives

Picture instructions poor

A common complaint is the lack of clear instructions, most stages of making adjustments with the seat and mirrors is mainly pictorial. Luckily most customers manage to figure it out as the only thing to do is remove the packaging and plug the battery cables in and you’re ready to go.

Have to remove lots of plastic and cardboard

It comes on a wooden pallet and is shipped separately from other purchases you may make at the same time if you buy it from Amazon. But it does have a lot of plastic and protective wrapping to remove and some customers thought it was a bit time consuming to get rid of it all. We would rather have more protective wrapping so the scooter arrives in tact than get rid of it though.

Prices

These are quality scooters and so are not cheap and we would not call them budget models. With a high weight capacity, long battery life and extremely comfortable ride it is a good price. At the time of writing it was selling for around $1400 which is about 35% discounted off the RRP. You will get many years out of scooter, previous customers have used it for up to 6 years before buying another one. Inthe long term it is really good value for money for the initial investment.

Summary

Overall these scooters have had little to no complaints from previous customers which is very rare and speaks volumes for the reliability and quality that you get when you get one of these to aid your mobility. It has been used by people up to ages of 98+ years so has to have a comfortable ride to provide support and function as a mobility aid. The luxury feel, long mileage range and durability make Shoprider Sunrunner scooters very good investments.